Greater efficiency: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Rosslyn, VA — Many control technologies support efforts to measure energy use, as well as use it more efficiently. A new energy law, helped along by National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA) advice, followed a year-long legislative process culminating in congressional passage in December. President Bush’s Dec. 19 signature made the bill into law.

By Control Engineering Staff

01/03/2008

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Rosslyn, VA — Many control technologies support efforts to measure energy use, as well as use it more efficiently. A new energy law, helped along by National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA) advice, followed a year-long legislative process culminating in congressional passage in December. President Bush’s Dec. 19 signature made the bill into law. Throughout the process, NEMA says it lobbied extensively to ensure industry-backed provisions were included in the final version of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. thomas.loc.gov/home/c110query.html to see details.)

NEMA says the energy package originally included energy tax provisions, some controversial, that prevented the Senate from passing it, and also drew a veto threat from the White House. Tax provisions subsequently were dropped from the energy package, including the NEMA-backed provision to extend the commercial building tax deduction that expires Dec. 31, 2008.

The eighth version of H.R. 6, which passed the House, Senate, and was signed into law, included other key NEMA-advocated provisions, including:

“Even though the bill does not include certain tax incentives to promote energy efficiency, I am very pleased that Congress was able to pass sound legislation that NEMA and its members supported,” said NEMA’s president and CEO Evan Gaddis. “The energy-efficiency standards in this bill — now law — will maintain a robust national approach to efficiency, and enable all of America to become much more energy-efficient.”

NEMA, a trade association for the electrical manufacturing industry, was founded in 1926. With headquarters near Washington, D.C., it has approximately 450 member companies that manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, VA, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, São Paulo, and Mexico City.